Tracing natural father

[Search4ireland]

I started out researching my husband's family tree but have reached a sticking point so figured I would try to progress my own.
The biggest problem I face is that I don't know my natural father. He is not on my birth certificate (and I understand was married to someone else at the time).
I figure he is now almost certainly dead but lived in this area in the 1950/60s. That means I can't use the census.
I am 99% positive of his employer at the time - he was manager of a smallish shipyard on Tyneside which closed many years ago.
Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions about anywhere worth trying to find employees of a previous company.
The other option could be trying to find him based on his original birthplace (which I know was Devizes in Wiltshire but have no idea of date).
Thanks for any pointers at all!

[california dreamin]

I think you'll struggle with this.  I don't think you'd be allowed to access any personnel files for this man. Even if these records had been archived more than likely they'd fall under the 100 year closure rule.  Again, I think you'd be defeated trying to contact work colleagues for the same reason.

If your aim is to make a family tree *presuming* this man is your father -  the best route (presumably you know his name) is to look for any marriage cert for him in order to find out his father's name, occupation. This man, your 'grandfather' (depending on age) may be on the 1939. This would be a good base to start from. 

CD

[CaroleW]

It’s not clear from your post whether you know his name.  You say “I don’t know my natural father” & that his name is not on your birth cert but you appear to have a lot of other details about him.

If you don’t know his name - your only possibility is DNA.  To attempt any type of investigation/ discussion you describe above without having some proof of paternity could cause problems

Have you taken a DNA test?

[brigidmac]

I've been helping someone work out their natural father for over a year .starting point was what the mother had said
name place if origin and that he was deceased .

But once we started using DNA it became evident that it was not the surname or place of origin that she had said .

Wether this was because the birth father had misinformed her or she had deliberately given a false lead I don't know but would definitely recommend you use hints  from DNA

Good luck with your search